Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Coloma Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside Coloma Township

Coloma Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Building and demolition permits for structures built, moved or altered on unincorporated land inside Coloma township; incorporated Rock Falls is excluded

  • Permits are issued by the Whiteside County Building & Zoning office, not by the township.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.

  “building and demolition permits are required for all structures built, moved, altered, demolished, destroyed by natural forces in unincorporated areas of whiteside county.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building codes adopted by Whiteside County for unincorporated land inside Coloma township; incorporated Rock Falls is excluded and sets its own codes

  • Code list is effective January 1, 2025 and applies to the unincorporated areas of Whiteside County.
  • 2021 IBC, IFC, IMC, IFGC, IPSC, IEBC and IRC, 2020 NEC, and 2021 IECC are listed; the 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code, 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code and IECC are marked as in effect by reference to the State of Illinois.
  • Whether any local amendments exist was not verified.

  adopted code edition: 2021 International Building Code and related 2021 I-codes (2020 NEC; 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code and 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code in effect by state reference)

  “effective january 1, 2025 applicable building codes for the unincorporated areas of whiteside county: 2021 international building code (ibc)”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts for unincorporated land inside Coloma township

  • Official county text says regulations vary by the district in which a parcel is located.
  • District list and map not located on an official page.

  “that the special use shall, in all other respects, conform to the applicable regulations of the county zoning regulations for the district in which it is located”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private residential on-site sewage systems on land inside Coloma township; the form does not state a service-area boundary, so confirm for land inside incorporated Rock Falls

  • Application goes to the Whiteside County Health Department.

  “permit application to construct a private residential on-site sewage disposal system for homeowner whiteside county health department, 1300 w 2nd street, rock falls, il 61071”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Fee for a homeowner private on-site sewage system permit on land inside Coloma township; building permit fees were not located

  • Form lists the homeowner installation permit fee; the tank-only fee is listed separately.
  • Fee may change in a later schedule; the form is marked 2025.

  homeowner installation permit fee: 460 USD (tank-only fee is $360.00)

  “homeowner installation permit fee*: $460.00 tank only: $360.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and demolition permit process for unincorporated land inside Coloma township

  • Applications must be filed in person at the Building & Zoning office, 18819 Lincoln Road, Morrison.
  • Permits are paid at submittal by cash, check, credit card (service fees apply) or money order.
  • Full procedure, timelines and fee schedule not located.

  “all permit applications must be presented in person at the building and zoning office. permits must be paid for at the time of submittal by cash, check, credit card (service fees will apply) or money order.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Coloma Township or Whiteside County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permitting for unincorporated land inside Coloma township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction on unincorporated land inside Coloma township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes on unincorporated land inside Coloma township
• Local zoning — Whether Coloma township (Whiteside County, IL) adopts its own zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for single-family homes inside Coloma township (main residential district)

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.